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1.
Michael Gosselyn’s office was furnished in good taste.
Everyone who came there realized at once that it was an
office of the manager of a first class theatre. The walls
had been panelled and on them hung engravings of theatrical
pictures by Zoffany and de Wilde. The carved furniture was
solid. Only a specialist could guess that it was not the
real Chippendale.

Everybody
knew that Michael was very thrifty and ran the theatre on
business-like lines. The decorator had to accept the client’s
terms and made the most of what he had. The room was
designed to make an impression of prosperity at the least
possible expense.

Michael
was extremely proud of his office and Julia, who saw
through him, couldn’t help smiling at the complacency on
his face.

2.
Julia realized what a treat it would be for a young
accountant to have breakfast at her place, she was just not
sure if it would be proper to invite him. Julia gave him
a doubtful look. His confusion was so touching, he blushed
scarlet. It was clear that the sight of the famous actress
took his breath away. He admired her so frankly that Julia
couldn’t but feel flattered. His attitude made her feel
larger than life-size, made her the greatest actress. And a
great actress must be generous. It’s generosity that
distinguishes a great actress. Julia thought that she could
make an exception for him. The young man was invited.

3.
Jimmie Langton was running a repertory theatre at
Middlepool. He was a talented director. At first sight it
seemed strange that actors agreed to work in his theatre.
He worked his cast hard. He screamed at them, he bullied
them, he underpaid them, he mocked them and drove them like
slaves.

He
had such a passion for the theatre, that the actors felt
that they couldn’t afford to let him down. It gave
them a sort of satisfaction to comply with his outrageous
demands to please him.

Jimmie
had wanted to be an actor himself, but his physique
practically prevented him from going on the stage. He was
fat, bald-headed and looked like one of Rubens’
prosperous burghers. Besides, he was a bad actor.

4.
Julia was a born actress and she had no doubt that she
would go on the stage. Her career was singularly lacking in
hardship.

Her
first teacher was an old French actress, who taught her all
necessary things : how to walk and how to hold herself on
the stage, how to articulate distinctly and how to use her
sense of timing, which Julia had by instinct. She was
quick-studied.

A
certain number of tricks that Julia had learned from her,
later turned to be out of date and Julia had to get rid
of them. She had to acquire a more conversational style to
be able to act in modern plays. But she always thought of
Jane Taitbout with gratitude.

5.
Michael’s father was a Colonel. Neither he nor
Michael’s mother approved of the idea of Michael’s
going on the stage. Though they had to submit to that,
they insisted that Michael should be educated like a
gentleman. Old Mr. Gosselyn was a pensioner, but still, he
managed to send Michael to Cambridge and dreamt that Michael
would excel there.

Michael
was proud of his ancestry. He wore the signet ring with
the family stamp — a boar’s head — and a
Latin motto : “Nemo me impune lacessit”. On the
whole, he wasn’t a snob, but he was shocked to learn
that Julia’s father was a vet.

6.
Michael was determined to go into management and make a
career. He thought that there was only one way of becoming
well-off — that is to be one’s own master.

They
could start on the minimum of five thousand pounds. He
had no idea how to raise a sum like that. He could hardly
expect to borrow money as he didn’t know anyone who
could lend him that sum. However, Michael hoped that an old
rich lady would support him.

Michael
knew that one couldn’t hope to make a success in
London, unless he was unknown. One had got to know the
ropes. If one made a good reputation in London, it would be
easier to find backers.

Portion
II.

1.
Though Michael told Julia a lot about his family, she
wasn’t aware that they knew about her existence. That
is why she couldn’t but be surprised to receive a
letter from Michael’s mother who invited her to
Cheltenham for Holy Week. The prospect of spending a whole
week with Michael was enchanting. It took her breath away
to think of it and she look forward to the holidays.

It
didn’t take her long to discover that Michael had
brought her down to Cheltenham for his parents to inspect
her. The thought flashed through her mind that there was
only one possible reason for it. When she thought of it,
her heart leaped.

2.
Michael was anxious for Julia to make a good impression on
his parents. Julia realized soon that she would be able to
enchant them. As a matter of fact, she was aware that
she was able to enchant anybody. It was clear that
Michael’s parents were not fond of the idea that their
son was going to marry an actress. Julia instinctively felt
that she had to conceal the actress and play the part of
a modest ingenious girl.

Michael’s
mother was happy to learn that Julia wasn’t made-up
or loud. No one would dream that Julia was on the stage.
Besides, she was head over ears in love with her son and
it flattered her motherly pride.

Julia
gave a perfect performance of the village maiden.

3.
Michael had affection and admiration for Julia, he felt at
ease with her. But he took her love for granted and it
was obvious that he wasn’t in love with her. It was
no good deceiving herself.

At
first this made Julia unhappy. Now and then she lost
control of herself and made him frantic scenes.

But
then she began to doubt if he was capable of loving
anybody. It didn’t seem worth while to suffer from
it. Soon Julia was content to love Michael whereas he
allowed her to love him.

4.
When Julia found out that an American manager had offered
Michael a part, her heart sank. She had to exercise all her
self-control to pretend that she was as excited as he
was. But when Julia remained alone, she lost control of
herself and began to cry in earnest.

In
America Michael was going to save every cent he could,
so, in two years he expected to have the best part of four
thousand pounds.

5.
When Julia realized that she had fallen out of love with
Michael, she fell into despair. She felt that she had lost
something that was infinitely precious to her. Her heart
sank. She was displayed. She was inclined to cry, because
her fortune had failed her.

But
when she had thought it over, her grief made a way to
relief. Now she was her own mistress and not a slave of
her love. Now she looked at Michael not with the eyes of
a woman in love but with shrewd penetrating eyes. Yes, it
was great to be free and she would be able to make the
most of her freedom.

Portion
III.

1.
As soon as the war ended Michael began to work as an
actor and soon gained a reputation in London.

He
spared no effort to force managers to pay him the salary
he thought he was worth, but if he couldn’t get it,
he was prepared to take less.

He
still thought of going into management, but though they had
saved seven thousand pounds, the sum was inadequate.

Mrs.
de Vries came to their rescue. She agreed to put up money
and become their partner.

2.
As time went on, Michael took to directing. He still
acted occasionally, but less frequently than earlier. When
he said he was going to direct their next play, Julia was
doubtful. She suspected that nothing good would come of
it. Michael had no fantasy and his ideas were
commonplace. But he made a much better job of it, than
Julia expected. As he knew perfectly well what Julia was
capable, he was able to get more out of her than any
other director.

With
the cast he was friendly, but exacting. When tempers grew
frayed, his good humour, his real kindness smoothed things
over.

3.
Michael’s complacency exasperated Julia. He beamed with
pleasure when he managed to beat an opponent at golf or
get the better of someone in a business deal.

Besides,
he was a crashing bore. He liked to tell Julia everything
he did and every scheme that passed through his mind. It
had been charming to listen to Michael, when she was head
over ears in love with him, but after she had fallen out
of love with him, Julia had to exercise all her tact not
to show him he was bored to death.